What are the schools like in Seneca, KS?

Seneca is served primarily by Nemaha Central. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.7:1.

What is the median household income in Seneca?

The median household income in Seneca, KS is $72,670 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.2%.

What is the weather like in Seneca, KS?

Seneca has an average high temperature of 34.8°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 30.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 33.4 inches.

Seneca, KS Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Seneca, KS affordable or expensive?

Seneca's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Seneca is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $195,200 and the median rent is $604 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Seneca, KS?

Seneca has a violent crime rate of 9.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 166.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Seneca, KS a Good Place to Live?

Seneca is a small town of 2,045 in Kansas, with a median household income of $72,670 and a 1.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Seneca stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Seneca is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Seneca city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 88.6

Seneca's overall cost of living index is 88.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Seneca costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Seneca, KS	National Avg
Median Home Value	$195,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$604	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	78.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$72,670	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Seneca's violent crime rate is 9.8 per 100,000 residents — 97% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

9.8 /100k

Property Crime

166.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Seneca is served primarily by Nemaha Central. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Seneca, KS	National Avg
School District	Nemaha Central	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Seneca sees average highs of 34.8°F in January and 86.5°F in July, with 30.5 inches of annual precipitation and 33.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Seneca, KS
Average High — January	34.8°F
Average High — July	86.5°F
Annual Precipitation	30.5"
Annual Snowfall	33.4"

Demographics

Metric	Seneca, KS	National Avg
Population	2,045	—
Median Age	47.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	9.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	22.5%	22.2%
65 and over	25.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

St. Benedict, KS 4 mi Baileyville, KS 7 mi Oneida, KS 7 mi Kelly, KS 8 mi Centralia, KS 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Seneca

Seneca, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code:

66538

Seneca vs Other Cities

Seneca, KS vs St. Benedict, KS Seneca, KS vs Baileyville, KS Seneca, KS vs Oneida, KS Seneca, KS vs Kelly, KS Seneca, KS vs Centralia, KS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Seneca, KS affordable or expensive?

Seneca's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Seneca roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $195,200 and median rent is $604/month.

What is the crime rate in Seneca, KS?

Seneca's violent crime rate is 9.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 166.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Seneca?

Public schools in Seneca are operated by Nemaha Central. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1. 21.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Seneca, KS a good place to live?

Seneca, KS has a population of 2,045, a median household income of $72,670, and an unemployment rate of 1.2%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Seneca?

Seneca averages 34.8°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 30.5 inches with about 33.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Seneca?

Seneca, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 66538.

What is the population of Seneca?

The population of Seneca, Kansas is 2,045 with a median age of 47.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Seneca?

Key numbers for living in Seneca: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $195,200, median household income $72,670, crime index 5 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Seneca side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.